Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-17
REV. II. NJ. JACKSON on PRAYER.
Christian Association mall
Last Might

Christian Association mall
Last Night.
The services at the Young Mem
/ Christian Association Hail last nigh
opened with the hymn "Staudng 10y
Purpose True" Mr.. Thomas related aI
anccdote connected with this hymn abou
Mr. Ben. jenkins. While Alr. Moody
was holding meetings in Baltimore Mr.
Jenkins and another man went one nigh
TO hear him, merely for the sake o
amusing themselves, as neither was re
ligious man. When they entered thC
building this hymn was being sung, anC
Mr. jenkins was 50 much affected by the
words and the singing that he resolved
then and there to give himself to lis
Saviour. Acting on Mr.. Moody's adj
vice, he rented a large building ina very
bad part Of the city, and has been work
ing faithfully ever since for the Master
Mr. Thomas read the fifth chapter al
the First Epistle OF John, and led il
prayer. The hymn 81 Know That NJ
Redeomer Lives was then sung
DIR. JACKSON.
Rev. II. VI. jackson, ID. D., Of Grace
church. was introduced as the orator OI
the evening and delivered very impress
sive address on the subject of 50 Prayer
- ask your attention. " said ne, "tC
these passages OF Scripture BE corcfu
for nothing, but in everything, byprayd
and supplication with thanksgiving, LET
your requests be made known unto God
Continue IN prayer, and watch IN the
same with thanksgiving. ! am asked tc
speak on the subject of prayer for thirty
minutes, but the subject IS too vast ont
to he treated satisfactorily il a discourse
of hours.
There is no subject which has beer
more discussed nor on which there pre-
walls differences of opinion than that OF
prayer. Prayer is an engine OF wonder
ful power, but youmust have a firm. I'M
sworyng faith in the efficacy Of youI
prayers if you hope to receive any bene-
fit from them. lie that cOmoth unto
God must believe that he is rewarded OF
them that diligently seek Him. | think
the tendency of modern thought and
modern sccpticism is to antagonize all
belief in the efficacy of prayer, and to
seek TO take from The Creator the control
of the work OF His own hands.
THE SCIENTISTS.
"ATyndall may say that all tho prayers
ever offered cannot bring down a single
drop OF rain from the heavens, or de-
fleet from its course single one of the
azure immensely of space, or win "a note
from the fcathered songsters OF the
groves. Who can make petition unto
a fixed law or hope to change the fixed
order Of the universe
Tho tendency Is to push God back
from His throne and to rob Him Of the
scoptre Of dominion over the creatures
Of His will-to make Him the powerlcss
subject of the laws which He has Him
sell enacted.
"Belicf in the power Of the Almighty
to change the relgniag order of things
under which We are living, and which
He has Himself ordained, is waning
everywhere, III the Church and ont Of
the Church, among those who call them
selves Christians. as well as among those
who make no profession of religion.
THE CREATION.
This universe did not make itself.
The sun and moon and stars did not ap-
pear in the blue canopy of Heaven of
their own sweet will. / do not believe
that the birds spontaneously sprang into
existence without the Intervention of an
Almighty Being, whose resistless fiat
produced and controls the innumerable
worlds scattered in infinite space.
THE GOOD or PRAYER.
After celebrating his views DR.. Jack
son said "It is possible for any man to
bring down blessings upon his family,
his relatives, his friends, by earnest,
persevering, fervent prayer. 1t Is In the
power OF this company of Christian men
and women to bring down a blessing
upon their friends. Christians are want
ing in faith. or we should see larger re-
suits from prayer. | remember reading
of n blacksmith who rs he struck the
heated iron and saw the sparks flying
from the blows began to think Of the
spiritual condition of the community
in which he lived. He deserted the
anvil forthe closet, and began praying for
his neighbors with such ealnestness that
a general awakening to their lost state is
SAID to have ensued throughout the
place.
"Some may remember Macaulay's pic
ture OF the low state Of religion at the
latter part of the seventeenth and be
ginning of the eighteenth century.
Blackstone tells us that he went all over
London and visited all the principal
churches. He says that he listened at
tcntiycly, and that he never heard a ser
mon which contained any more OF the
Gospel than would be found III one Of
Cicero's epistles.
"In America, Samuel Blair says, religion
lay a-dying everywhere. 1t was at this
iunctnre the two Wesleys and a number
of students, friends of theirs in the Uni
versity, met at their rooms for prayer,
and in that spot was born the mighticst
rclieious movement which has taken
place on earth since the times OF Luther
and st. Paul.
TARTARS' IDEA or PRAYER
"The Tartars," SAID DIR. Jackson,
"have peculiar ideas on the subject OF
prayer. They construct little wheels
and put papers containing the prayers
all around them, and by turning IA cranl;
they make the papers on which the
prayers are written roll of, and look
upon these prayers as offered and ac-
cepted. They put the aged and infrm
to work TO turn the wheel, and while the
Young and vigorous are at work in the
field the fathers and mothers are turning
out the prayers for their good. This
contains lesson for the Christian. If
we cannot work we can pray for our
friends. Goulburn compares prayer to
a beautiful golden thread woven through
the wool of life.
81 could wish that there might be
some practical result from this evenings
meeting. could wish that q band of
Young men might band themselves to
pray for their friends. Young men,
pray for your brethren"
....1.,.r-,- ron M